Morocco in 10 Days: Marrakech to the Sahara
Imperial cities, blue Chefchaouen, Atlas Mountain villages and a camel night in Erg Chebbi. A timed-out 10-day route with riads, transfers and the day you absolutely should leave free.
Read moreA long flight, a big continent, a lot of decisions.
Africa is the most rewarding long-haul trip most Australians ever take - and the one with the most planning landmines. Wrong country in the wrong month is a disappointing safari. Wrong combination is six extra hours on a plane for no good reason. Wrong operator is a stack of surprise costs at the gate.
This is where we share what we've learned routing Cooee travellers across the continent: country-by-country season tables, honest comparisons of the safari heavyweights, the cultural circuits that are worth the detour, and the trip combinations that actually work for a 2 to 3 week Australian holiday.
Featured · Safari
Kenya Safari Guide: When to Go, Where to Stay, What to See
Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, Laikipia, Tsavo - five very different parks, very different months, and very different prices. Our complete planning guide covers the Great Migration window, where to base for the Big Five, family-friendly options, and the small lodges Australians keep coming back to.
Read the full guideCountry guides, comparisons & field reports
From the savanna to the Sahara - here's what we've published lately.
Egypt Itinerary: Cairo, Luxor & a Nile Cruise
Pyramids, Valley of the Kings, Karnak, Abu Simbel and a properly-paced Nile sailing. How to do Egypt's classic circuit in 9 to 12 days without burning out on temples by day four.
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Tanzania vs Kenya: Which Safari Is Better?
Serengeti vs Mara, Ngorongoro vs Amboseli, calving season vs river crossings. The genuine differences between East Africa's two safari titans - and the case for doing both.
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South Africa: Cape Town & the Garden Route
Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula, the Stellenbosch wine farms, and a coastal drive that gives the Great Ocean Road a serious run. Our two-week South Africa itinerary, plus the best safari add-ons.
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Best Time to Visit Africa, by Region
Africa is bigger than your weather app suggests. A month-by-month table covering the East African safari belt, Southern Africa's dry season, North Africa shoulder months, and tropical-coast windows.
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Climbing Kilimanjaro: Routes, Fitness, Cost
Machame, Lemosho, Marangu, Rongai - which route gives the best summit odds, what training to do from sea-level Australia, and the inclusions you should actually scrutinise on operator quotes.
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Big Five Safari: Where to See Them All
Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino. The reserves with the highest realistic odds of a Big Five sweep, the trade-offs between Kruger, Mara and Ngorongoro, and why "guaranteed" is a red flag.
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Victoria Falls: Zambia or Zimbabwe Side?
The two sides give completely different experiences depending on the month. Our season-by-season call on Livingstone vs Victoria Falls town, plus the cross-border day-pass nobody tells you about.
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Rwanda or Uganda for Gorilla Trekking?
Volcanoes National Park vs Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The permit prices are very different. The trek difficulty is very different. The country experience is very different. Here's how to choose.
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Namibia: The Self-Drive Safari That Actually Works
One of the few African destinations where renting a 4x4 and going it yourself is genuinely recommended - and gorgeous. Our two-week loop covering Sossusvlei, Etosha, the Skeleton Coast and Damaraland.
Read moreFind your kind of African trip
Honest sub-categories - not just the famous-name countries.
Safari Guides
East and Southern African safaris, Big Five, Great Migration, lodge-vs-mobile camping.
Cultural & Historical
Morocco's imperial cities, Egypt's temples, Ethiopia's churches, Cape Town's history.
Adventure & Trekking
Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Rwenzoris, gorilla trekking, Namibia self-drive.
Beach & Island
Zanzibar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Mozambique - safari-to-beach combinations.
Country Itineraries
Day-by-day routes for Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia.
Travel Tips & Planning
Visas, vaccinations, packing for safari, malaria zones, currency and tipping.
About this Journal
Australian-licensed, locally-led.
Cooee Tours is a Brisbane-based ATAS-accredited tour operator. We curate our African itineraries from Australia, but the trips themselves are delivered by long-standing local ground operators in each country - the people who know which lodge actually has rhinos this season and which Saharan camp is worth the extra hour in the 4WD.
Booking your Africa trip through an Australian agency gives you ATAS consumer protection, an AUD-priced quote with no surprise FX charges, and someone in your timezone if anything goes sideways at 2am Nairobi time. Read more about how we work, or get in touch for a custom Africa quote.
Africa questions.
Common things Australian travellers ask us before their first African trip.
Is it safe for Australians to travel to Africa?
The mainstream safari and tourist circuits in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Morocco and Egypt are well-developed and routinely visited by Australian travellers. We always cross-check Smartraveller advisories before publishing itineraries and operate with vetted local ground partners. Always check Smartraveller.gov.au for current advice on any specific destination.
When is the best time of year to go on safari in East Africa?
For Kenya and Tanzania, the most reliable game-viewing months are June through October during the long dry season, with the Great Migration river crossings typically peaking July-September in the Masai Mara. Late January to February is excellent for the southern Serengeti calving. See our When to Go guide for region-by-region windows.
How long should an Africa trip be from Australia?
We typically recommend a minimum of 12-14 days for any first African trip, given the flight time from Australia (around 14-18 hours each way via Doha, Dubai, Singapore or Johannesburg). Two- to three-week trips deliver much better value per flight-hour, and many travellers combine two countries - for example Kenya plus South Africa, or Morocco plus Egypt.
Do I need vaccinations or a visa for Africa?
Visa requirements vary by country - Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt and Rwanda all offer e-visas or visa-on-arrival for Australian passport holders, while South Africa is visa-free for short stays. Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry into several East African countries and recommended in others. Always confirm current rules with the destination's embassy and consult a travel-medicine clinic 6-8 weeks before departure.
Does Cooee Tours run its own Africa tours?
Yes. As an ATAS-accredited Australian tour operator we curate and sell Africa itineraries directly, working with vetted local ground operators in each country. You get the consumer protection of booking through an Australian agency plus the local knowledge of operators who run these routes daily. Get in touch for a custom quote.
Can I combine an Africa trip with another region?
Easily. The most popular combinations from Australia are Africa-plus-Middle-East (Dubai, Jordan, Israel) via Emirates or Qatar, or Africa-plus-Europe via a connecting hub. We can also bolt an Indian Ocean island stop (Mauritius, Seychelles, Zanzibar) onto the end of a safari for a beach-after-bush finish.